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Perine let out a shaky sigh, her words soft but laced with doubt. “You don’t know that.”

Oleander’s heart cracked a little, raw and aching, as he stared at her. He pulled her to him, pressing a tender kiss to her lips, unhurried this time. But even as she returned his kiss, his mind wrestled with a truth he wasn’t ready to admit.

He wanted to tell her they could figure it out together—build a life, carve a path forward. But like sugar on the tongue, the lie dissolved before he could speak it. He didn’t know if he could help her. The second rune he’d carved onto her back—the one that allowed her to leave the Holy Circle—would soon lose its magic. He wasn’t sure if the spell would work again, if he could even do it a second time. Perhaps this was all they would ever have.

The thought twisted his stomach in agony. He didn’t want to imagine a world where they couldn’t share this. Where they couldn’t have each other.

Before he could spiral any further, soft hands cupped his face and Perine kissed him—everywhere but his lips. He growled playfully, unable to resist the pull, and shifting until their lips met again. This kiss was deeper, slower… savouring.

He couldn’t touch her enough. His hands drifted lower, trailing lightly between her thighs. Her breath hitched, a soft whimper escaping her lips.

He grinned, asking, “Are you alright?”

She nodded, her enthusiasm unspoken but clear. With a slow, careful movement, he slid a finger inside her, after a moment he added a second, curling both fingers gently, watching her fight for breath.

Her voice, breathy and desperate, filled his ear. “Oleander…”

Wildfire ignited in his chest, consuming him, her every gasp pushing him closer to the edge of control. He tried to hide the nervousness churning inside him—the fear that somehow this wouldn’t be perfect. But in this moment, her movements, her body pressed against his, became everything.

He pinned her to the mattress, guiding her as she rode his hand, her urgency mirroring his own. He hoped, desperately, that this was everything for her.

When she let out a breathy whine, he grinned and nipped at her neck, just below her ear. The soft sting of his bite made her shiver, and he kissed a path up her neck, reaching her lips again. His kiss deepened, slow and tender, but as he pulled away, she bit his lip, making him grin once more.

“Is this alright?” he whispered against her lips.

“Maybe… a little slower?”

“Like this?”

“Yes,” she murmured, her hand guiding him, showing him where to apply more pressure. “Could you bite my neck again?”

“Oh, but gladly.”

Chapter

Thirty-Five

PERINE WILDER

She was coming undone. Peri clutched her emotions close to her chest, desperate to keep them locked away. But it was like trying to hold the sun in her bare hands.

Everything inside of her was wound tight, and no matter how firmly she tried to keep her feelings from bursting forth, Oleander pulled each hidden desire from her until she knew the whispers of her heart shone clearly for him to see in her face, to feel in her touch. She watched as the flash of something smugly victorious illuminated his features, and she knew in that moment that her feelings were secret no more.

It embarrassed her, being seen so completely—but it thrilled her as well. When their eyes met, and she saw in him the same raw admiration and longing that churned inside her, she stopped trying to hide.

For a brief moment, doubt flickered in her mind. But then she remembered the decision she’d made earlier tonight—to take control, even if only for one night. The decisions she made in this moment felt right, more true to who she was. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time, hadn’t liked herself this much in years.

So she pushed aside the overwhelming anxieties about the life she was being forced into. She tucked away everything that wasn’t Oleander—until the only thing that remained was him. Her body, her mind, her soul, wrapped in the comfort of him. Slowly, she exhaled, able to breathe again.

“Oleander,” she whispered. His gaze snapped to hers, and he stilled. Her skin tingled as their eyes locked, and her heart raced. Finally, her breath hitched, and she whispered, “I just want you to know that I need this.” She swallowed. The confession came out more raw than she’d meant. “That sometimes I want you so much it hurts.”

For a long moment, the only sounds in the room were their quick breaths, filling the space between them. Then he pulled her to him, and their lips met again. Soft at first, then deeper. He whispered her name like a prayer, and she melted into him. His hands moved, and when he bit the tender spot where her neck and shoulder met, it felt as if he were claiming her.

Everything inside her shattered, and instinctively, she pressed herself closer to him, desperate for more. His arm was a steady anchor as she moved against him, their bodies in sync, rhythm building between them.

They breathed heavily, and for a moment, she tumbled against him—exhausted. But then, she kissed him again. Passionate. Desperate. Time stretched endlessly in the sweetness of their touch.

Eventually, they laid together; gasping with laughter, their foreheads pressed together. Only the hunger didn’t fade. Their hands roamed again, ravenous, unable to touch each other enough.